Pyramaze "Contingent"

Country: Denmark
Genre(s): Progressive Power Metal
Label: Inner Wound Recordings (IW83062)
Format: CD, digital
Release date: April 28, 2017
Tracklist: 
1. Land Of Information (5:37)
2. Kingdom Of Solace (5:53)
3. Star Men (5:11)
4. A World Divided (5:07)
5. Nemesis (4:08)
6. Contingent - Part I: The Campaign (1:41)
7. 20 Second Century (5:03)
8. Obsession (4:06)
9. Heir Apparent (4:53)
10. Contingent - Part II: The Hammer Of Remnant (1:54)
11. Under Restraint (4:36)
12. The Tides That Won't Change (3:33)
13. Symphony Of Tears (4:54)

Total time 56:36   

Line-up: 
Terje Harøy - Vocals
Jacob Hansen - Guitars, Bass
Jonah W. - Keyboards
Toke Skjønnemand - Guitars
Morten Gade Sørensen - Drums

Description/Reviews: 

When Progressive Metal can be this accessible, it is something special for sure. The prowess of the band is omnipresent, and the heaviness is there as well, yet they let the album breathe instead of stifling you with too many tempo changes and overly technical performances that can sometimes feel cold. Indeed, it is warm, inviting, and full of life and vigor. Forward looking, and with no boundaries, the synergy of Progressive, Symphonic and Modern elements offer what is best about several styles of Metal into one album, with a bounty of wondrous tracks.

Read the full review by Dave Campbell at metal-temple.com

Media/Samples 
20 Second Century
Kingdom Of Solace 
A World Divided

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Universal Mind Project "The Jaguar Priest"

Country: Multinational
Genre(s): Progressive Power Metal
Label: Inner Wound Recordings (EU/NA), Bickee Music (Japan)
Format: CD, digital
Release date: April 29, 2016 (EU/NA), May 25, 2016 (Japan)
Tracklist: 
1. Anthem For Freedom (4:12)
2. Truth (4:47)
3. The Bargian Of Lost Souls (4:28)
4. Dreamstate (5:40)
5. Awakened By The Light (Universal Mind) (7:59)
6. A World That Burns (4:39)
7. Seven (4:23)
8. The Jaguar Priest (8:55)
9. The Force Of Our Creation (8:35)
10. Xibalba (4:53)

Total time 58:31

Line-up: 
Elina Laivera - Vocals
Henrik Båth [Darkwater, Waken Eyes] - Vocals
Michael Alexander – Guitars, Growls
Alex Landenburg [Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody, 21 Octayne] – Drums
   With
Nils K Rue [Pagan’s Mind] - Vocals
Mark Jansen [Epica, Mayan] - Vocals
Charlie Dominici [ex-Dream Theater] - Vocals
Diego Valdez [Helker] - Vocals
Alessandro Bissa [Vision Divine]
Mike LePond [Symphony X]
Emanuele Casali [DGM] - Keyboards
Johan Reinholz [Andromeda] - Guitar

Media/Samples 
The Force Of Our Creation

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Sunburst "Fragments Of Creation"

Country: Greece
Genre(s): Progressive Power Metal
Label: Inner Wound Recordings
Format: CD, digital
Release date: February 26, 2016
Tracklist: 
1. Out Of The World (5:39)
2. Dementia (5:45)
3. Symbol Of Life (4:29)
4. Reincarnation (4:46)
5. Lullaby (4:16)
6. End Of The Game (5:08)
7. Beyond The Darkest Sun (5:21)
8. Forevermore (4:46)
9. Break The Core (4:38)
10. Remedy Of My Heart (12:36)

Total time 57:24

Line-up: 
Vasilis Georgiou - Vocals
Gus Drax - Guitars
Nick Grey - Bass
Kostas Milonas - Drums
   With
John K. - Orchestral Arrangements (10)
Bob Katsionis (Firewind, Outloud, Serious Black) - Keyboards
Mina Giannopoulou - Backing Vocals (10)
Astrous (Aenaon) - Backing Vocals (9, 10)

Description/Reviews: 

The songs are complex yet mesmerizing. Chosen moments include "Dementia" a perfect example of what a prog power hit single should be, "Beyond the Darkest Sun" a shiver-inducing instrumental tour-de-force, and the last track called "Remedy of my Heart", an epic 12-minute journey that brings the record to a close in an impressive fashion.

Read the full review at metalstorm.net

Media/Samples 
Dementia
Stream

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Votum ":Ktonik:"

Country: Poland
Genre(s): Atmospheric Progressive Metal
Label: Inner Wound Recordings
Format: CD, digital
Release date: February 26, 2016
Tracklist: 
1. Satellite (4:56)
2. Greed (6:24)
3. Spiral (6:19)
4. Blackened Tree (3:46)
5. Simulacra (5:54)
6. Prometheus (6:59)
7. Horizontal (5:01)
8. Vertical (6:31)
9. Last Word (4:25)

Total Time 50:15

Line-up: 
Bartosz Sobieraj - vocals, acoustic guitar
Piotr Lniany - guitar
Adam Kaczmarek - guitar
Zbigniew Szatkowski - keyboards
Bartek Turkowski - bass
Adam Lukaszek - drums

Description/Reviews: 

Some atmospheric keyboard pieces pulsating in the right places, building up to some chugging riffs over mid-tempo drum work. It’s the first two tracks that define what ‘Ktonik‘ is offering here, a certain take on the sound that British legends Anathema started. While influences are evident, the album is nowhere near a carbon copy of atmospheric classics like ‘Judgement‘.
It’s tracks like ‘Spiral‘ that are demonstrating the Votum’s skill of progressive musicianship, building off of a sci-fi sound in the opening and progressing into some off-signature riffing, maintaining the core value of atmosphere throughout. The album is diverse in sound yet remarkably consistent, with the tracklisting diving into polar extremes such as the soft ballad of ‘Blackened Tree‘ and the top heavy ‘Prometheus‘.

Read the full review at themetalist.net

Media/Samples 
Satellite

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Pyramaze "Disciples of the Sun"

Country: Denmark
Genre(s): Progressive Power Metal
Label: Inner Wound Recordings
Format: CD, vinyl, digital
Release date: May 22, 2015 (EU), May 25, 2015 (UK), May 26, 2015 (NA)
Tracklist: 
1. We Are the Ocean - 01:17
2. The Battle of Paridas - 04:31
3. Disciples of the Sun - 03:54
4. Back for More - 04:22
5. Genetic Process - 04:58
6. Fearless - 05:23
7. Perfectly Imperfect - 04:52
8. Unveil - 05:15
9. Hope Springs Eternal - 05:40
10. Exposure - 05:11
11. When Black Turns to White - 04:35
12. Photograph  - 02:43

Line-up: 
Morten Gade Sørensen - Drums
Jonah Weingarten - Keyboards
Toke Skjønnemand - Guitars
Jacob Hansen (Anubis Gate) - Guitars, Bass
Terje Harøy - Vocals

Description/Reviews: 

Disciples of the Sun has very little in common with their past, aside from still falling into the prog-power genre generally. Gone is the heavy crunch of Immortal and the Euro-power frills of Legends, and in their place is something akin to recent Anubis Gate and Pagan’s Mind mixed with traces of indie rock. Regardless of how you categorize it, this is an absolutely brilliant slab of hooky prog-power and easily one of the best albums of 2015. Go figure.

 Read the full review at angrymetalguy.com

Media/Samples 
Fearless
Disciples of the Sun

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Mindmaze "Back from the edge"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Power Metal, Progressive Metal
Label:  Inner Wound Recordings
Format: CD, digital
Release date: October 24, 2014
Tracklist: 

1. Back from the Edge 04:50
2. Through the Open Door 04:48
3. Moment of Flight 05:28
4. Dreamwalker 04:35
5. The Machine Stops 10:28
6. Consequence of Choice 05:55
7. End of Eternity 04:41
8. Onward (Destiny Calls Pt. 2) 08:54

Line-up: 
Sarah Teets - Vocals, Flute
Jeff Teets - Guitars, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Kalin Schweizerhof - Drums
Mike LePond (Symphony X) - Bass
   With
Jens Johansson (Stratovarius) - Keyboard solo Track 3
Matt Johnsen (Pharaoh) - Guitar solo Track 5
Jeff Pouring (Maverick Hunter) - Guitar solo Track 7
Lord Tim (LORD) - Guitar solo Track 8
Chad Barnes (Draekon) - Backing Vocals Track 1, 4, and 6

Description/Reviews: 

The melodies on this record are as big as the individual performances and at least five of the tracks are easily suited to radio, without surrendering their souls. “Through the Open Door”, “Moment of Flight” and “Dreamwalker” are prime examples of this, with fast-paced riffing, melodious solo work, propulsive rhythms, and Sarah’s dynamic vocals. The guitar, drums, bass and keyboards serve as unique voices of their own and blend harmoniously. Every one of these tracks is capable of getting stuck in your cranium on an endless loop. Fortuitously, there is always another song vying for dominance to prevent such ear candy hyperpoxy. “Moment of Flight” is the more progressive of the three tracks, and features some eloquent keyboard work from the legendary Jens Johansson (Stratovarious, Yngwie Malmsteen).
Settled into the center of the record is the 10-minute-plus progressive epic, “The Machine Stops”. It is the album’s most diverse track, at once beautiful, majestic and powerful. The first three minutes are instrumental, and during the song’s winding journey fans are treated to a tasty guitar solo from Matt Johnsen of Pharaoh. Some of the album’s most inspired moments are captured here.

 Read the full review by Rustyn Rose at metalholic.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Silent Voices "Reveal The Change"

Country: Finland
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal
Label: Inner Wound Recordings
Release date: November 29, 2013 (Europe), December 3, 2013 (North America)
Tracklist: 
1. The Fear Of Emptiness (9:02)
2. No Turning Back (6:56)
3. Reign Of Terror (7:05)
4. Faith In Me (6:19)
5. Black Water (6:06)
6. Burning Shine (6:00)
7. Through My Prison Walls (11:56)

Line-up: 
Teemu Koskela - vocals
Timo Kauppinen - guitars
Henrik Klingenberg (Sonata Arctica) - keyboards
Pasi Kauppinen (Sonata Arctica) - bass
Jukka-Pekka Koivisto - drums
   With

Mats Levén (ex. Therion, Yngwie Malmsteen) - vocals
Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica) - vocals
Mike Vescera (ex. Loudness, Yngwie Malmsteen, Obsession) - vocals
Mike DiMeo (ex. Masterplan, Riot) - vocals

Description/Reviews: 

The album has a very solid start with a track called The Fear of Emptiness, the type of track you can associate with great bands like Dream Theater. I mean the first track in an album should be the one that’ll keep you listening to the whole album and for me intros plays an important role in my listening of the remaining album. The clean bass notes mixed with a raw guitar distortion from early metal years coupled with the best available toms on the drums. *flying kisses* mama mia. I said to myself: Scrumptious. And then instantly I heard the first vocals that were so mesmerizing, it sort of knocked me out. The track will make you move your head throughout, with a perfect metal guitar riff using power chords and the palm muting we all love, followed by beautiful alternate picking in some parts. 

Read the full review at ladyobscure.com

Media/Samples 
No Turning Back

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Vandroya "One"

Country: Brazil
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal, Power Metal
Label: Spiritual Beast/Inner Wound Recordings
Release date: December 19, 2012 (Japan), January 18, 2013 (Europe and North America)
Tracklist: 
01. All Becomes One
02. The Last Free Land
03. In Oblivion For Eternity
04. Within Shadows
05. Anthem (For The Sun)
06. Why Should We Say Goodbye?
07. The Tide Change
08. When Heaven Decides To Call
09. This World Of Yours
10. Solar Night

Line-up: 
Daísa Munhoz (Vocals)
Marco Lambert (Guitars)
Rodolfo Pagotto (Guitars)
Giovanni Perlati (Bass)
Otávio Nuñez (Drums)

Description/Reviews: 

This release from Brazilian band Vandroya will not just appeal to fans of power metal but also progressive metal bands like Adagio and Symphony X . ...
While track seven "Change The Tide" does include male vocals, the first thing I noticed was that Vandroya have a female vocalist Daisa Munhoz (Soulspell) and she has a very appealing voice and a range that suits their vibrant kind of metal music... Vandroya switch from those more straightforward power metal speed blasters like "The Last Free Land" to the more technical of metal numbers such as "No Oblivion For Eternity" and "Anthem (For The Sun)" where you can hear inspiration from other heavy progressive bands.

 Read the full review by Scott Jessup at seaoftranquility.org

Media/Samples 
Why Should We Say Goodbye

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